Lifesaving Gift

June 1, 1986

Parents, merchants, community organizations and others will help Volusia County's graduating seniors learn an important lesson in the next days that might save their lives: You do not need drugs or alcohol to have a good time. The sponsors of Project Graduation have scheduled parties for four of the county's six public high schools. The idea: Help kids have a graduation party free of alcohol and drugs.

Project Graduation shows what a community can do when it cares enough about itself to get involved. As highways continue to be filled with drunken- driving deaths, it is encouraging to see students sign up to attend these parties and pledge to avoid the dangerous combination of alcohol and cars on one of the most memorable nights of their lives.

It is no small task coming up with ways to keep teen-agers at an all-night party organized by adults. Those incentives include prizes awarded throughout the night. Merchants, individuals and organizations have donated everything from gift certificates to a used car for seniors at New Smyrna Beach, Spruce Creek and DeLand high schools.

But one Project Graduation party still needs help. Organizers of Taylor High School's party in Pierson are struggling to pay for a barbecue and pool party as well as provide prizes for graduation night. The problem is that the rural school does not have many nearby businesses for donations. So it is depending on the generosity of people outside the Taylor school district to help make the party a success.

Contributions could be the incentive that keeps a student at Taylor's party on June 9. The gift could help save a life on graduation night. And safety is the goal of the community's Project Graduation.